Forsta, the leading technology company in transforming the human experience (HX) across customer, employee, patient, member and consumer journeys, today announced it has expanded its portfolio of technology customers in the DACH region via the addition of Insight Culture, a consulting agency with a focus on ethnographic market research since its foundation in 1999.

Insight Culture will implement Forsta’s Human Experience (HX) Platform technology to deliver modern market research activities for their clients.

“We’re very excited to leverage Forsta’s solution with our clients,” said Nelly Kern, Research Director at Insight Culture. “Our business is focused on uncovering insights that open up relevant business opportunities and, with Forsta, we’re equipped to add more power to that promise.”

Forsta’s HX Platform is built on 30 years of technology expertise in market research, customer and employee experience. In addition to quantitative and qualitative research technology solutions, the platform combines digital functions for storytelling and data visualization as well as tactical and strategic action management. Utilizing the platform, researchers can collect, analyze, visualize and act on data about assessments, opinions, sensitivities and behavioral intentions on a unified platform.

“We are thrilled to begin this engagement with Insight Culture as we continue to grow our footprint in this critically important region,” said Michael Lersch, managing director for Forsta Deutschland. “Technology is fundamental to the collection, evaluation and analysis of large data sets in market research and customer experience. The Forsta HX platform and our team of experts will help Insight Culture and its clients to tap into the experiences of their audiences and ultimately deepen those connections to drive greater value.”

We have embarked on a groundbreaking expedition within the broad digital landscape. At WordLift, we are excited to introduce our cutting-edge technology for content generation. This voyage seamlessly integrates the capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs) and incorporates a compound network of Knowledge Graphs (KG).

What is WordLift?
WordLift isn't only a tool; it's a revolution in digital content creation. We've navigated the vast seas of online information and turned it into an amplifier of the power of AI and semantic web technologies. We empower creators, marketers, and SEO experts to craft content that connects, captivates, and ranks higher.

We're fast-forwarding AI-powered SEO into the future, and it's brimming with potential.

The Magic of the Knowledge Graph
At the heart of WordLift is the Knowledge Graph. It's a dynamic, interconnected web of information. Think of it as the DNA of your content. It's mapping every piece of information, fact, and relationship. It creates a rich tapestry that breathes life into your content.

It isn't only data; it's a living, evolving entity that understands context, relationships, and nuances. By leveraging these graphs built using WordLift, we guide the LLMs. It ensures they remain on the right path, enriching content with depth and relevance, enabling a more reliable and accurate way of exploiting LLMs.

The WordLift Content Generation Tool
But what's innovation without tools to harness it? Enter the WordLift Content Generation Tool - a first of the kind. This dynamic solution is engineered to streamline content production by maximizing Large Language Models (LLMs). As a pioneer, WordLift ensures "that" generated content is accurate, efficient, and scalable using graphs and ontologies.

In a world of LLMs, our validation rules stand guard. WordLift Content Generation Tool ensures every piece of content sings with your brand and dances to the rhythm of your guidelines by empowering content managers with unparalleled results.

WordLift's AI-Powered SEO Approach
WordLift is a Generative AI platform designed to revolutionize the SEO landscape with its cutting-edge solution. Its primary goal is to improve enterprise revenue by driving more organic traffic, targeting a qualified audience, and fostering business growth.

WordLift is remodeling how clientele approach and discern their SEO and digital marketing needs.

Key Features and Technologies:

• Structured Data Integration, making content more readable and recognizable for search engines like Google.
• Knowledge Graph Creation, with the help of AI, allows search engines to comprehend the structure of your content.
• Content Recommendation System can suggest products to users and integrate clickable cards, widgets, and shopping cart banners.
• Generative AI-powered content creation to scale content production through AI within the company's guidelines and TOV.
• Integration with Data Studio facilitates the creation of shareable, comprehensive reports.

WordLift harnesses the power of AI and semantic web technologies. It automates SEO tasks, enhances content visibility, and provides a richer user experience by integrating structured data, building KG, and offering AI-driven content solutions. WordLift stands at the forefront of the future of SEO.

• PROEN adopts joint solution integrating Qwilt’s Open Edge CDN, based on Open Caching, with Cisco’s edge compute and networking infrastructure

• New partnership enables PROEN to support full CDN functionality, bringing better digital experiences to millions of end users throughout Thailand

• PROEN deployment enables national content delivery coverage across all of Thailand today, while preparing for delivery of future applications from the Open Edge

PROEN Corp Public Company Limited (PROEN), a leading provider of Internet, data, ICT, and business telecom services across Thailand, has deployed Qwilt and Cisco’s Open Edge Content Delivery Network (CDN) solution to improve the quality and delivery capacity of digital content and applications. In doing so, it becomes an active participant in the content delivery value chain by partnering with content publishers and enterprise customers across Thailand to deliver streaming media and data efficiently and rapidly.

The deployment sees PROEN embed Qwilt’s Open Caching-based architecture deeply into its network edge, enabling the delivery of increased data volumes across its network and improving the quality of experience for end users throughout Thailand. The partnership equips PROEN with next-generation content delivery infrastructure and provides open APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to content publishers looking to deliver content with the highest quality. With full-country coverage, the deployment will include activating Open Caching services at multiple distributed PROEN sites across Thailand.

Naris Ratyiam, Chief Commercial Officer, PROEN, said: “Our partnership with Qwilt and Cisco is an exciting step in our mission to strengthen our network and deliver superior experiences to our customers. By building Qwilt’s Open Edge solution into our infrastructure, we’re creating an open and unified content delivery solution that will bring numerous benefits to content publishers when they utilize the service, including current PROEN partners such as MCOT, Channel 3, and Buga Boo. This deployment enables us to tackle the rapidly growing demands for live streaming, video-on-demand, and application services head-on while ensuring these experiences are delivered consistently in the highest quality.”

Theodore Tzevelekis, VP, Cisco, said: “By deploying our joint Open Edge solution with Qwilt, PROEN gains access to a platform that meets the needs for high-quality streaming experiences while opening the door to exciting future edge computing use cases. We’re delighted to have PROEN on board and excited to help deliver exceptional digital experiences for its customers in Thailand.”

"We’re delighted to welcome PROEN as the latest service provider to join our Open Edge movement. Each new deployment expands our global, all-edge network and gives us the opportunity to play a significant role in helping enhance the seamless delivery of digital services to many millions of consumers,” said Alon Maor, CEO, Qwilt. “Embedded at the edge of PROEN’s network, closest to users, our Open Edge CDN goes beyond offering traditional CDN functionality – it ensures users across Thailand experience the highest quality and fastest delivery, whether they’re consuming streaming video, playing online games, or downloading massive files. This strategic deployment reflects PROEN's commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to its valued customers and reinforces its position as one of Thailand’s leading service providers.”

Today, 150+ service providers have partnered with Qwilt to enable the Open Edge in their networks, together serving over one billion unique subscribers globally. They include Verizon in North America; TIM Brazil and Telecom Argentina in Latin America; Airtel in India; J:COM in Asia-Pacific; BT in the UK; and Telefónica and Vodafone in EMEA.

Conceal, a pioneer in web security innovation, is excited to announce its strategic alliance with CyberForce Security, a leader in cybersecurity products and services. This collaboration is set to enhance CyberForce's already comprehensive technology suite by including ConcealBrowse's elite browser security.

“We are thrilled to integrate with CyberForce Security, a powerhouse known for its value-driven approach and deep commitment to offering the finest cybersecurity solutions in the industry. By incorporating ConcealBrowse into their portfolio, we're collectively raising the bar in web protection for MSPs of all sizes,” commented Gordon Lawson, CEO of Conceal.

Miles Dunbar, COO of CyberForce Security, stated, “At CyberForce, our ethos revolves around understanding our partners and clients, both technically and business-wise. By integrating with Conceal's browser security, we're amplifying our promise of delivering only the best-of-breed solutions. This collaboration embodies our dedication to staying at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation.”

This partnership aligns perfectly with CyberForce Security's mission of hand-picking elite cybersecurity products and ensuring every business, from start-ups to established giants, has access to top-tier protective solutions. As both companies champion a customer-centric approach, their synergistic endeavor promises to set new benchmarks in MSSP offerings.

For Managed Service Providers seeking to fortify their security offerings, we invite you to join the Conceal MSP Community, where the focus is protection where it truly counts: at the browser. As part of our community, you’ll gain complimentary access to NFR licenses of ConcealBrowse. With effortless deployment and user-friendly interfaces, it integrates seamlessly into existing security infrastructures and stands robustly as a standalone solution, offering you unparalleled ease and flexibility. More so, built-in multi-tenancy and monthly billing features open avenues for revenue growth, allowing easy downstream deployment to your clients. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your security toolkit and grow your practice.

Chainlink Functions enables developers to connect dApps to any API and run custom serverless compute with just a few lines of code; includes integrations with Space and Time, The Graph, and more

Chainlink Automation 2.0 offers verifiable offchain computation, enabling users to securely automate high-value jobs at up to 1/10th of the gas cost; users include Oku Finance, Sommelier, and more

Chainlink, the industry-standard Web3 services platform, announced today that Chainlink Automation 2.0 and Chainlink Functions (Beta) are now live on mainnet, unlocking advanced offchain computation and data connectivity capabilities across multiple blockchain ecosystems. The new version of Chainlink Automation lets developers offload any smart contract computation offchain in a verifiable and ultra-reliable manner, allowing them to automate even the most intricate Web3 use cases, saving up to 90% in gas costs. At the same time, Functions allows smart contracts to access any real-world API in a serverless manner. Developers can now access any public or access-controlled API data, AI models, cloud services, and legacy systems to build entirely new types of Web3-enabled applications and experiences.

Chainlink Automation 2.0 and Functions represent a paradigm shift in Web3 app development involving offchain computation and real-world data connectivity powered by Chainlink decentralized oracle networks (DONs). Both Chainlink Automation and Functions enable developers to access advanced offchain computation while maintaining the trust minimization and cryptographic guarantees of the underlying blockchain. In response to the demands of Web3 developers, the most sought-after features include automating smart contracts, enhancing their computational capabilities while maintaining cost-efficiency, and seamlessly connecting them to any desired API. With these launches, those demands have become a thing of the past.

"Bringing the next hundred million users onchain requires a seamless developer experience that enables developers to create advanced applications that have the highest standards for security and verifiability," stated Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink. "This is why we're excited to expand the capabilities of the Chainlink platform with Functions and Automation 2.0 to unlock advanced offchain computation use cases underpinned by the proven security of Chainlink."

Since the launch of testnet in March 2023, Chainlink Functions has seen significant interest from the developer community, with 2,800+ builders signing up to build with serverless compute and unmatched data connectivity that unlocks many novel use cases. With Functions, it is now easier than ever to build new apps. Developers can seamlessly create, fund, and manage their subscriptions using an NPM package or monitor, deploy and interact with all of their functions through an easy-to-use UI. Additionally, developers can now configure execution time, number of requests, payload size, and other parameters, as well as control who can call their function. This enables developers to gate contract initiation and allow any EOA to trigger the Functions request. Functions also leverages a threshold encryption scheme to enhance API secrets' security in a decentralized manner.

"Space and Time has natively integrated with Chainlink Functions to allow our users to send zk-proven query results onchain," said Scott Dykstra, CTO & Co-Founder at Space and Time. "The integration enables smart contracts to leverage the Space and Time data warehouse and ask data-driven questions without spending more gas onchain. Space and Time and Chainlink are bridging the gap between onchain and offchain systems to unlock new use cases for DeFi, Web3 gaming, dApp developers, and the enterprise adoption of blockchain technology."

"Chainlink Functions and subgraphs on The Graph Network make it easy to access traditionally offchain data with blockchain-native methods," said Kyle Rojas, Director of Global Business Development at The Graph. "Now, smart contract developers can leverage the data integrity guarantees of both Chainlink Functions and The Graph's decentralized network, unlocking new, advanced decentralized use cases."

"We are excited about the potential of Chainlink Functions connecting Chainalysis's APIs to smart contracts at the protocol level, making it easier for the Web3 developer community to protect their dApps using Chainalysis data and unlock new innovative use cases," said Pratima Arora, Chief Technology Officer at Chainalysis.

Chainlink Automation is the industry standard for smart contract automation, providing enterprise-grade reliability and performance across a near-infinite range of trigger options.

Before Automation 2.0, developers simulated conditional functions offchain and revalidated them again onchain for maximum security when the conditions were met. This worked, but it was complex and expensive. Now, developers can simply leverage Chainlink Automation's cutting-edge consensus model to access secure, reliable, and verifiable offchain computation with the highest standard of cryptographic guarantees. Specifically, developers can offload work to Chainlink Automation to boost performance and reduce onchain costs.

Automation 2.0 offers an expanded set of triggers, unlocking new ways to connect multiple dApps. For example, Automation now enables smart contracts to react to log events emitted onchain, acting as a powerful messaging bus that's similar to the pub/sub messaging bus used to connect microservices in Web2.

"We've used Chainlink Automation to run basic onchain liquidators for Interest Protocol, to implement trustless onchain limit orders for Uniswap v3 in Oku, and have more applications in the works," said Getty Hill, Co-Founder of GFX Labs. "The Chainlink Automation 2.0 network is the most dependable and decentralized platform, safeguarding and securing the value inherent in the interactions of Oku and Interest Protocol users, ensuring their execution is both timely and secure."

"Sommelier is using Chainlink Automation 2.0's secure offchain computation to drastically reduce user vault deposit/withdraw costs by shifting the gas burden to offchain calculations," said Josh Kessler, Head of Growth at Sommelier.Finance.

Automation 2.0 and Functions are underpinned by the same industry-standard infrastructure as other battle-tested Chainlink services, which leverage a pool of time-tested, provably reliable node operators that have collectively enabled $8.5T+ in transaction value and maintained unparalleled uptime levels, even during record levels of network congestion and market volatility. Developers can now write and test Functions in their browser using the Chainlink Functions Playground. If you'd like to get started building right away, explore the developer documentation for Automation and Functions.

Beyond the mainnet rollout of Chainlink Functions and enhancements to Chainlink Automation, Chainlink announced the upcoming launch of VRF 2.5, the newest version of its Verifiable Random Function (VRF), which is Web3's most widely used random number generator (RNG) with 17 million transactions completed. VRF 2.5 will include two major improvements: native gas token billing and a substantial UX improvement for upgrading to future VRF versions.

Altogether, this novel suite of compute services within the Chainlink platform—combined with the network's proven history of security and reliability—enables developers to realize a multitude of next-generation Web3 use cases that rely on advanced offchain computation.

Nativo, the platform where brands unlock the power of content to engage and empower their audiences, is thrilled to announce its sponsorship of the 2023 ANA Masters of Marketing Conference, set to take place in Orlando, Florida from October 24-27.

Held by the Association of National Advertisers, the ANA Masters of Marketing Conference is renowned for its spotlight on the ingenious approaches and groundbreaking strategies employed by top Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and paramount brands across the globe. These strategies have been instrumental in surpassing customer expectations, stimulating growth, and ushering in transformative change. Participants will have the privilege to immerse themselves in unparalleled networking opportunities, riveting entertainment, and special events, all the while absorbing the compelling tales of growth, metamorphosis, and triumph narrated by the industry's pinnacle C-suite leaders.

"The ANA Masters of Marketing Conference is an iconic event that brings together the brightest minds and most transformative strategies in marketing," said Raquel Cadourcy, CMO at Nativo. "We at Nativo are both proud and excited to be a sponsor for this year's conference, which will be attended by professionals committed to being at the forefront of the industry's evolution. We are eager to learn, engage, and collaborate with fellow marketers to redefine the future of customer engagement."

Nativo's involvement as a sponsor underscores their unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive advertising ecosystem and their dedication to championing the power of authentic storytelling in brand marketing.

"Masters of Marketing is our signature event of the year in which industry leaders can interact with and learn from the nation's best and brightest marketing experts," said ANA CEO Bob Liodice. "We welcome Nativo's participation in the conference and thank them for their support."

Attendees can find Nativo on the conference floor where the on-site team will be showcasing the latest products and solutions on the Nativo platform. Nativo will be available from Tuesday through Friday for meetings and demonstrations.

Additionally, Nativo is committed to reducing their marketing waste from their activations and is choosing to donate to causes in lieu of handing out traditional material items. Through their partnership with Givsly, the purpose-led advertising and marketing company, Nativo is able to promote their sustainable values to attendees that come by while supporting communities in need.

The 2023 ANA Masters of Marketing Conference promises to be a reservoir of innovation, inspiration, and invigorating insights, and with sponsors like Nativo, attendees are assured an informative and insightful experience.

Ecommerce businesses looking to sell their products via TikTok Shop in the US & UK will now be able to access the channel through Feedonomics for Marketplaces

Feedonomics, the market leader in product feed management and marketplace syndication for ecommerce businesses, today announced its direct integration support for TikTok Shop in the US & UK.

Through this integration, merchants leveraging Feedonomics for product listing management and order syndication across hundreds of global shopping channels are now able to sell products directly on TikTok Shop through in-feed videos, LIVEs, and the product showcase tab.

"Social commerce is a critical part of merchants' omnichannel strategies, and immensely popular platforms such as TikTok present an ideal source of highly engaged, purchase-ready shoppers who can increase traffic, improve conversion and grow revenue," said Matt Dornfeld, Feedonomics Sr. Director, Global Partnerships. "Now, merchants looking to take advantage of TikTok's innovative shopping feature have direct access to the channel through our native integration for catalog and order management."

TikTok's participatory nature is creating an entirely new way for brands to connect with their communities. It's made product discovery and shopping a native, engaging and entertaining experience for users, which isn't the same for other platforms. Brands see TikTok as an exciting way to reach and engage with new audiences they otherwise would not have been connected with before. The brands having the most success are those that embrace the creativity and authenticity of the community. In-app checkout seamlessly integrates product discovery, engagement, and checkout, in one place to reduce friction and create more sales.

"We're excited to partner with Feedonomics to bring new opportunities to the TikTok community and drive shopping moments directly through TikTok Shop in the US. This integration will enable sellers to efficiently streamline their TikTok Shop by syncing daily operations to their ecommerce platform of choice," said Marni Levine, Head of TikTok Shop Operations, SMB.

Managing orders and inventory manually is inefficient, error-prone, and unsustainable, especially when dealing with multiple systems.

Feedonomics for Marketplaces is a fully managed solution that automates product listing, catalog optimization, and order and inventory management for 300+ channels including TikTok Shop. Our solution combines powerful technology with a team of support specialists who are available 24/7, enabling Feedonomics to create a full-service feed management experience for sellers.

"OtterBox partnered with Feedonomics for an expedited and smooth integration with TikTok Shop that allowed us to be early to market in the premium electronic accessories space," said Bill Dillon, OtterBox President of Consumer. "Feedonomics continues to support us post-integration by handling the day-to-day operations powering our TikTok Shop integration. This allows our team more time to focus on strategy and growth."

Zapier is making automation more visual, powerful, and AI-first with new workflow and database products

Zapier, the leader in easy automation, announced the general release of Tables to all users and its new product, Canvas. Tables is an automation-first database allowing users to easily and reliably move data in and out of the 6000+ apps on Zapier's platform. With Tables, users can store, edit, share, and create automated workflows with their data all in one place. 

"Tables is a game-changer for businesses, providing a simpler and more reliable way to manage data and the workflows they power," said Sheryl Soo, Zapier's Chief of Staff & VP, New Products. "Since Tables is built for automation, it's easier than ever for users to manage and harness the power of their data, and seamlessly connect and automate workflows across thousands of apps - all on Zapier."

In addition to this announcement, Zapier announced its new AI-powered flowchart tool, Canvas. Currently available through the Early Access Program, Canvas allows users to visualize their existing workflows and receive recommendations on what to automate next.

Zapier also announced several other significant updates at its user conference, ZapConnect:

• AI power-ups: Building an automated workflow is now as easy as writing a prompt. Customers can describe what they want to automate, and our AI will draft a workflow, write code, or create a custom action for them.
• Visual editor: This new interactive editor allows customers to add up to 10 paths, drag and drop steps, and get a bird's eye view of an entire workflow, generating powerful automations easily.
• Admin controls: Account owners and administrators can now see everything their team automates in the audit log, and control which apps their teams can use in Zapier to keep company data safe.
• Integration improvements: Zapier reached the milestone of 6000+ apps on its platform, allowing customers to connect relevant apps to help their business grow and scale.

"Growing a business is a unique challenge for all entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs deserve software that can adapt to those unique needs rather than force companies to switch to a way of working that matches the software," says Zapier CEO and Co-founder Wade Foster. "With Tables, Canvas, and the other features announced at ZapConnect, we're providing our customers with software to meet and scale their one-of-a-kind business needs faster than ever."